Tag Archives: accusation

Chelsea skipper John Terry has revealed he has yet to hear from new England manager Roy Hodgson about his possible involvement at Euro 2012.

Hodgson confirmed upon his appointment he would speak to both Terry and Rio Ferdinand before picking his 23-man squad for next month's tournament in order to determine whether they could play together.

Suit you, sir: Terry presents Lucas Piazon with the Young Player of the Year award on Thursday night

Doubt: Hodgson may leave Terry at home this summer

Terry faces trial in July after being charged with racially abusing Ferdinand's younger brother Anton, an accusation he denies.

'I've not had any call yet but I'm focusing on the league and Chelsea at the moment,' Terry said at Chelsea's Player of the Year awards.

'Hopefully, I get the call and I'm in the squad – and that goes for many of us here. 'I'll always be there for my country.'

All smiles: Terry in Chelsea training on Thursday ahead of their final league game

Aside from the legal case hanging over Terry's head, questions have been asked of his form after he endured a torrid time in Tuesday's 4-1 defeat at Anfield, with Liverpool striker Andy Carroll dominating him for 90 minutes.

Terry, who was made to look foolish by a couple of nutmegs by both the England international and Luis Suarez, did not help himself with an untimely slip to allow Jordan Henderson to race through unchallenged and score the second, while he also lost Carroll at a corner for the third goal

The development came as it appeared that Dykun, a medal hope who now faces an Olympic ban, had fled Britain for his homeland. Nicholson confirmed last night that he has not spoken to Dykun since news of the failed test broke but would not comment on his whereabouts.

Nicholson will be asked next week not only about the embarrassment of Dykun's positive result – amphetamines work in the same way as a stimulant, inducing weight loss and accentuating alertness – but the entire management of a sport that is emerging as riven with intrigue and recrimination.

Billy Cooper, of Wildcats Freestyle Wrestling Club in Manchester, has been involved in the sport for 40 years and said: 'I'm not bitter about how wrestling is run from any personal experience. This is the sport I love. Kids are the future, not imports.

'I see British Wrestling destroying a lot of the work I have put in over the years. It saddens me and many others.'

Another coach claimed that foreign wrestlers had been put up free of charge at a house in Manchester bought by performance director Shaun Morley, while British wrestlers had to pay rent to live there.

Nicholson refused to deny the accusation but added: 'Briefing from people who don't agree with the strategy is disappointing. No sport has 100 per cent agreement and critics are using the drug test – a failed A sample, not a B sample – as a reason to undermine the strategy the board believe is right.'

No sparring partner: Dykun came to Britain as a 21-year-old and graduated to the Wrestling team

The accusations are the latest in a line of controversies to bedevil the sport. The main complaint centres around five athletes, brought in from Ukraine and Bulgaria, marrying British citizens, ostensibly to gain UK citizenship and represent Team GB at this summer's Olympics thanks to 3.5million of public funding. Two female athletes were denied citizenship in March.

Nicholson, who will meet BOA chief executive Andy Hunt – also Team GB's chef de mission – told Sportsmail he had no intention of resigning, but added that 'nobody says never'.

Dykun, 29, who competes in the 66kg category and is a former Commonwealth champion, has been suspended from competition and has had all his funding cut pending the outcome of the B test. He missed Olympic qualifying events in China and Bulgaria and is out of this week's qualifier in Helsinki.

The furore about 'Plastic Brits', such as Dykun, representing Team GB was highlighted by a Great Britain gymnast born in Ukraine. Ruslan Panteleymonov, who came to Britain to study at university 12 years ago – Dykun moved in 2003 – and has therefore never been labelled a 'Plastic Brit', argued the decision to promote Dykun from sparring partner to team member after he gained eligibility made a mockery of international competition.

Panteleymonov said: 'The English guys who were training and competing before, they're doing their preparation, doing everything, trying, and then some foreigners come and they say, “All right, we compete now”. This is not right.'

The fight the world wants to see is disappearing into the shadowy and menacing recesses of Floyd Mayweather's brutally deprived childhood.

Behind the flashy facade and the wads of $100 bills thrown like confetti to grovelling night-clubbers here in party city, the boxer so rich that he calls himself Money is haunted by nightmares of an upbringing so impoverished that he lived his days in hunger and his nights in darkness.

That boy has grown into a man so paranoid about safeguarding his health that he sees no reason to risk confronting Manny Pacquiao to resolve once and for all which of them is the greatest pound-for-pound fighter on Earth.

Holding court: Mayweather has revealed details of his tough upbringing

The explanation is his familiar accusation that Pacquiao could not have grown into a world champion in an unprecedented eight weight divisions without chemical assistance.

The reality is that he fears being sucked back into the ghetto from which he so narrowly escaped.

Mayweather bared his soul after putting the finishing touches to his preparations for Saturday night's fight with Miguel Cotto, a ferociously tough proposition for any normal champion but not one to disturb the sleep of one of the most masterful technicians in the annals of the ring.

It is his memories which do that.

Mayweather's extraordinary confessional veered between painful recollections and a rant against Pacquiao dripping with foul-mouthed venom.

Floyd Jnr, as he was known until he decided to shrug off the yoke of the father who beat him, was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and remembers: 'There was no stable home. I was moved between our place and other family members, between Michigan and New Jersey.

'Basically I raised myself. One lady relative had nine kids but still she made me her tenth child. When I was at home, my elder sister would try her best to get us up for school and my father would sometimes drop off a few dollars.

Title bout: Mayweather faces Cotto on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

'From a young kid, I never had no curfew. I never got in before midnight, often 3am even though the sound of gunshots on the streets was something we heard all the time. I plain didn't want to go home.

'Worst of all it was dark there when I got in. There was no electricity. Too dark. I used to lay in bed with my flashlight and look up at the pictures of famous boxers I had stuck to the ceiling. I couldn't wait to go to the gym. That was the best thing in my life.

'If my father was at home he would beat me. Mostly I hadn't done anything wrong but he beat me just the same. Then when I was 16 my father left my life, to go to prison.'

Uncannily, that fate now awaits Floyd the younger. His three-month term for assaulting the mother of his own children was delayed so he could go through with his appointment with Cotto, the Puerto Rican folk hero. But report to the county jail here he must, on June 1.

It will be harder for him to leave his kids than it was to depart what masqueraded as his first family home: 'Some of the boys who got the call to the bigger training camps got homesick. Not me. I was given food and looked after. I could see they thought they had found something in me. They put me in hotels.'

Once, though, it was in a dingy motel and its lack of light became a recurring and disturbing theme in his life: 'The room was dirty but worst of all it was dark. So dark. I was back to laying in bed in the dark,'

Waiting game: There's still no sign of the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight taking place any time soon

Waiting game: There's still no sign of the Mayweather v Pacquiao fight taking place any time soon

Not for long – but long enough for him to say to himself: 'Something good is going to happen to me and when it does I will make sure my family never have to go where I have been.'

Now it angers him that so many of his countrymen are disaffected by his public arrogance, his sharp tongue, his bling, his insistence on calling himself the greatest: 'I give back to America (his generosity runs from major charities to paying for the funerals of great old fighters who die poor like Smokin' ) yet I get more love in the UK than in my homeland.'

Suddenly the mood begins to turn. He has talked of admiring the epic rivalry between Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Roberto Duran but ask him why boxing is still awaiting his defining fight against Pacquiao and the 35-year-old snaps: 'Do you do what you want or what other people want you to do Why should I do something which could damage my health in order to please the media If I end up unable to see my watch you mother-f****** will just move on to someone else.'

But can Mr Money turn his back on a cool $100million from the richest fight of all time 'I've made a pile of money already but I tell you I’d rather give it all back than wind up trying to find my cane.'

But if he's so sure he can whip the PacMan, why is the risk so great He is facing a libel action from Paquiao for insinuating that he uses drugs but he says: 'S*** man can't you see. Come on. He was nowhere back in the day but he's grown through eight divisions. Come on. Even his head got bigger. Ray Charles could see it.'

But hasn't Pacquiao agreed to his demand for Olympic standard blood testing 'Bulls***. Bob Arum (PacMan's promoter) says it but Arum is a f***** liar. Go ahead, call me a coward. But if so I'm a rich coward. And you all know I ain't scared.'

Mohammad Aamer has been encouraged to appeal against his five-year ban for spot-fixing by the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Zaka Ashraf accepts Amir's claim that he was 'trapped' into becoming involved in a spot-fixing plot with former captain Salman Butt and bowler Mohammad Asif in England in the summer of 2010, which led to all three players serving custodial sentences.

Aamer, 19, was the first of the three to be released at the start of last month and Ashraf, who met Aamer recently, now believes the player should challenge the sporting sanction imposed on him by the International Cricket Council, although the player has previously indicated his intention not to do so.

Ashraf told pakpassion.net: 'Aamer was very apologetic at the meeting we had with him and spoke of how he was trapped into spot-fixing.

'He is such a wonderful young talent that has been wasted and it's such a shame that he cannot even use our practice facilities. Coming from such a remote village Amir could have become the best bowler in the world. He has served his prison sentence and that matter is now closed, but the issue of the ICC ban is obviously still ongoing.

Five-year ban: But the PCB have urged Aamer to appeal

'I think the five-year ban is too harsh and it is down to Amir if he wishes to appeal against that lengthy ban imposed upon him. I would suggest that he does appeal against the ban and I think the relevant body should take a lenient view given his age and the talent he possesses.

'We should not let this young boy's career be ruined, we should all try to help him and understand that he was trapped into getting involved in spot-fixing.'

Ashraf also said the player would undergo psychiatric treatment to address his mental frailties, and then give lectures to other aspiring cricketers urging them to avoid the pitfalls he experienced.

England are set to discover on Monday evening whether one of their players will face disciplinary action for allegedly biting the finger of Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris.

The accusation was made to referee Nigel Owens in the 28th minute of England's 30-9 victory at Twickenham on Sunday.

Owens did not see the alleged incident but confirmed to the two captains, Chris Robshaw and Rory Best, that it would be looked into after the match.

Accusation: Stephen Ferris felt he was bitten

The independent citing commissioner Alberto Recalbini has until 6.30pm on Monday to study all incidents in the match and decide whether to cite any players.

When Owens addressed Robshaw and Best he said: 'I have an accusation of biting, a clear mark on the finger.

'I did not see something. If I do it will be dealt with severely, which would be a red card.

'It could be dealt with afterwards. If it is seen it will be dealt with. I did not see it.

'Have a word. Nothing like that takes place in this game. I can only deal with what I see. Have a word please.

'I have had a look. Unless I can see it, it's been dealt with, okay'

Waiting to see: Chris Robshaw (left) did not comment on the allegation

As the two forward packs then set themselves for a scrum, Owens added: 'This game is difficult enough without stuff like that, is that clear'

Owens then approached Ferris while he was receiving treatment from the physio and said: 'I have done all I can. It has been noted. If I don't see it I can't do nothing about it. It has been spoken about and dealt with.'

Robshaw insisted after the game that he had not seen anything untoward on the pitch.

Asked how he would react if one of England's players had bitten an opponent, Robshaw said: 'It is one of those things we will have to address when we meet up, but at the moment it is innocent until proven guilty, so to speak.

'We will see what happens.'

Under International Rugby Board regulations, the lowest entry level suspension for biting is 12 weeks with the maximum being four years.

Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris accused an England player of biting his finger during Saturday's RBS 6 Nations match at Twickenham.

The allegation was made to referee Nigel Owens in the 28th minute of England's 30-9 victory.

Owens did not see the incident but confirmed to the two captains, Chris Robshaw and Rory Best, that it would be looked into after the match.

England will know by Monday evening whether a citing has been brought by the independent match commissioner.

Addressing Robshaw and Best, Owens said: 'I have an accusation of biting, a clear mark on the finger.

'I did not see something. If I do it will be dealt with severely, which would be a red card.

'It could be dealt with afterwards. If it is seen it will be dealt with. I did not see it.

'Have a word. Nothing like that takes place in this game. I can only deal with what I see. Have a word please.

'I have had a look. Unless I can see it, it's been dealt with, okay'

Devoured: England thrashed Ireland to round off the Six Nations

As the two forward packs then set themselves for a scrum, Owens added: 'This game is difficult enough without stuff like that, is that clear'

Owens then approached Ferris while he was receiving treatment from the physio and said: 'I have done all I can. It has been noted. If I don't see it I can't do nothing about it. It has been spoken about and dealt with.'

Robshaw insisted after the game that he had not seen anything untoward on the pitch.

Asked how he would react if one of England's players had bitten an opponent, Robshaw said: 'It is one of those things we will have to address when we meet up, but at the moment it is innocent until proven guilty, so to speak.

'We will see what happens.'

Under International Rugby Board regulations, the lowest entry level suspension for biting is 12 weeks with the maximum being four years.

Federico Macheda, Nile Ranger and Manny Smith have been charged by the Football Association over alleged homophobic comments on Twitter.

Manchester United striker Macheda, currently on loan at QPR, Newcastle forward Ranger and Walsall's Smith are accused of acting in a way which was 'improper and/or brought the game into disrepute', including 'a reference to a person's or persons' sexual orientation'.

Accused: Macheda, on loan at QPR, has been charged by the FA

The three players have until 4pm on Wednesday to respond.

An FA statement today: 'Newcastle United's Nile Ranger, Walsall's Manny Smith and Manchester United's Federico Macheda, currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers, have all been charged with improper conduct in relation to comments made on Twitter.

Charged: Ranger has until 4pm on Wednesday to respond to the accusation

'The charge is that the players acted in a way which was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.

'It is further alleged that the breach included a reference to a person's or persons' sexual orientation.

'Each has until 4pm on Wednesday 29 February 2012 to respond to the charge.'

West Ham midfielder Ravel Morrison was last week fined 7,000 by the FA in response to a homophobic remark made on Twitter.

Morrison, who completed an undisclosed switch to Upton Park from Manchester United at the end of January, is reported to have made the comment in response to another Twitter user.

British Swimming chief David Sparkes admits he agrees '100 per cent' with Alexei Evangulov's concerns that diving sensation Tom Daley may not be able to fulfil his medal potential at this summer's Olympics due to the teenager's media commitments.

Evangulov, the British Swimming performance director, recently warned Daley that he must reduce his activities outside the pool or face missing out on a medal in London while also claiming the teenager's main Chinese rivals 'trained three times harder'.

In a spin: Tom Daley and Peter Waterfield disappointed at the recent championships in London

Daley has denied the accusation but Sparkes has also voiced his concerns about the 17-year-old's preparations.

Asked if he agreed with former Russia coach Evangulov, Sparkes told the Daily Telegraph: 'One hundred per cent. The danger here is that Tom isn't able to perform to the degree we believe he can.

'Our prime interest has to be to make sure that this incredible young man gives himself the best opportunity to achieve what could be a life-changing result in London.

Different focus: Daley has been accused over his media commitments

'We can only admire the way Tom handles the media – he's incredibly good at it – but it's impossible to win medals on just talent alone; you have to do the hard work.'

Sparkes, the chief executive of British Swimming, added about the public feud between Evangulov and Daley: 'You might come to the conclusion there's a hint of frustration here. Here is a world-beating coach who sees a world-beating athlete not committing sufficient time to the task and in turn perhaps not listening as intently as he should be.'

Daley this week defended himself against Evangulov's accusations, insisting he was pushing himself as hard as he could without his 'body breaking'.

Responding to that comment, Sparkes said: 'We understand that. But there are many aspects of training which don't cause bodies to break down.

'It's all about putting in sheer hard work up to London, I still believe if Tom does knuckle down, he can inspire the nation in the summer.'

Tom Daley has been defended against the accusation he is putting his media profile ahead of his Olympic prospects.

The London 2012 poster boy responded to British Diving boss Alexei Evangulov, who contrasted Daley's money-spinning activities with the focus of his Chinese rivals.

'Diving, family and school have always been the priority for Tom,' said Daley's agent, Jamie Cunningham. 'This is 90 per cent of his life.

Making a splash: The team around Daley have impressed how much time Daley spends in preparation for Olympics

'As an elite 17-year-old athlete, this was agreed between Tom, his family and British Diving. Corporate, media work and friends form the other 10 per cent.

'We have always worked closely with British Diving – including Alexei Evangulov and Tom's coach, Andy Banks – to ensure any media work takes place around diving, family and school.

'We also work closely with the media to ensure over 70 per cent of his interviews and appearances take place in Plymouth (where he lives).

'The media interest in Tom is hardly surprising given his age, sport, his success to date and the fact it is a London Olympics.'

Daley's team at Professional Sports Group are privately taken aback by Evangulov's claim he 'can't restrict' his star diver's media work. They believe they arrange his commercial commitments around his diving schedule.

He is not allowed by Evangulov to miss a session. Evangulov is a strict disciplinarian. A former Russian diving champion, his methods are steeped in the old Eastern Bloc. He envies the Chinese's similarly rigid methods.

In a spin: British diving chief says the Chinese will be better prepared this summer

That regime, which hot-houses divers in sports schools away from their parents, is anathema to the West, with its worklife-school balance.

Evangulov said the Chinese – led by Qiu Bo, Daley's rival on the 10-metre platform – are training 'three times harder'.

He added: 'The Chinese have restricted their divers and I support them on this.' Cunningham said: 'The comparisons with China may be relevant from a sporting perspective but less valid from a cultural and human one. We turn down over 95 per cent of commercial and media approaches.

'We fully agree British public expectation is too high around Tom. Qiu Bo is very much the gold-medal favourite. But the plan agreed with British Diving, Tom's sponsors and the media in late July 2011 is 100 per cent on track.'

Daley has cut down his engagements this year, though he remains a Twitter devotee. He is training with the British squad ahead of next week's World Series event in the Olympic pool, where he will compete in the 10m platform synchro with Pete Waterfield.

Daley has made no secret of wanting to work in the media when his diving career is over, though not before Rio 2016.